Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

Chapter 136 – Floor 12: Part 5

The Grand Cathedral was located in the heart of Londinium. It lived up to its name, made of white stone and accented with silver and marble. Its dome, which dominated the city’s skyline, was topped with a majestic statue of a Griffin, exquisitely detailed in gold.

The announcement of Prince Aiden’s return had been a momentous occasion in Londinium; with the rumours having been finally confirmed, the populace was eager to see the Lost Prince. Tens of thousands had gathered outside the cathedral, while thousands of nobles, wealthy merchants, and the kingdom’s elite were already seated inside.

The Nobility, never ones to let an occasion pass without a chance to show off, wore their finest clothing and jewelry. The air practically sizzled with mana as the wealth of enchanted items amongst those in attendance glowed with energy.

At the head of the cathedral’s hall sat the King and Queen. Regal and dignified, they wore crowns that symbolized their positions. Encrusted with jewels and rare materials, the centrepiece of the crowns drew the eye the most. Crystalized Aether, enough to drive nearly anyone insane with greed, glinted in the light.

The Crystal Aether used in both crowns came from a single piece, separated and carved into smooth ovals, and carefully fixed into place during the time of Arthur and Guinevere. So priceless were the items that they were locked away in a vault, only taken out and worn during the most important of occasions.

The King looked at ease, leaning back on his throne as if he knew what would happen was a mere formality. On the other hand, the Queen looked paler than normally to those who knew her the most. She was obviously nervous, but the crowd took it as a mother’s fear for her son.

They had discussed the risks with Aiden the night before, such as how wielding the Sword ‘Excalibur’ would destroy anyone not of Arthurian Blood. Even with that fated lineage, many contenders for the throne died. This is a significant reason why Alfred could not be Crown Prince.

He would never survive this trial.

But Aiden seemed confident. After listening to their concerns and the details of the challenge to come, he asked a few questions regarding the nature of the magical sword and how it came to be given to Arthur.

Then, he had done something rather odd. He seemed to hear a noise that no one else was aware of. He had raised his wrist and read some invisible missive quietly for a moment before nodding and lowering his arm. It was at that point he said that he had no choice but to take up the sword and that the gods were confident he would succeed.

Neither the King nor the Queen could argue with that.

Page Break

Daphne felt Matilda fidget in her seat next to her, either in impatience at the wait or because of the uncomfortable wooden pew. Her cousin was fanning herself forcefully with her beloved white fan, allowing those near her to see the dove painted on the front.

Both of the women had worn new dresses for this occasion, Matilda in a light blue and Daphne in a cream colour. With large, matching hats, they fit in perfectly with the other lords and ladies present. Next to her, Daphne’s parents were speaking quietly to another couple while her aunt and uncle were stoically waiting for the event to begin.

Daphne wasn’t sure who Matilda took after; the energetic young woman had her mother’s looks, but neither of her parents matched her personality.

Daphne’s uncle, Matilda’s father, was older than her father and had once been a Knight of great renown when he was younger. After inheriting the title from his father, he withdrew from the wars against the Demi-Beasts to manage the estate. It was up to his son, Marten, to take up his role.

Curious, Daphne looked around once again for her cousin, Marten, but didn’t see him. He was one of the Knights who would be escorting Prince Aiden to the Cathedral, and his arrival would declare that the ceremony would soon start.

Turning her attention away from the crowd and her fidgeting cousin, Daphne looked at the object at the front of the Grand Cathedral. As a trained mage, Daphne was sensitive to the fluctuations of mana. She could ‘see’ it in her mind’s eye, a glow or colourful light that let her judge the power of a person or object by the amount of mana inside it.

To her eyes, the front of the Grand Cathedral was nearly blinding. If it wasn’t for the wards and protective enchantments that shielded the crowd, it would affect everyone here. Thankfully, she could study the magical item through the wards without worry.

It was the legendary sword ‘Excalibur.’ The steel blade, engraved with runes, was driven into a block of stone just as it had been when King Arthur pulled it free over a millennia ago. King Albrecht had returned it to its original position only a few hours ago.

The block of stone had been in the royal vault since Albrecht pulled it free, just as his father had done before him, in an endless line back to the founding of Anglia. No one mentioned the deaths or failures that Daphne had studied during her time at university.

Would Aiden pass the test, or would he fail?

“Finally! Get ready, he’s coming!” Matilda whispered excitedly, stretching her neck to have a better look at the cathedral entrance and the prince's arrival. She could hear music playing outdoors and the banging of a drum. The crowd was going wildly, and there was a roar of noise.

The Knightly escort entered first, wearing magical armour and tabards featuring the Royal Griffin in gold and red. They looked intense and powerful; no man or woman showed a single hint of emotion, and they watched the crowd warily.

“There’s Marten.” Matilda said, spotting her brother first. Daphne could hardly recognize him in his spotless and perfect uniform. He was clean-shaven, his hair combed, and his eyes were clear. He was taking his role seriously, and Daphne marvelled at the difference between him yesterday and today.

The Knights snapped a salute to the King and Queen before separating into two lines on either side of the spectators. Marten was just ahead and to the side of Daphne and Matilda but refused to acknowledge the quick handwave his sister gave him. His eyes were locked at the entrance where the prince was now entering.

The cathedral was as quiet as a tomb. Daphne could hear the crowd almost holding their breath in anticipation. They had heard so many rumours about Prince Aiden, and now was the time when they could finally confirm what was real.

Daphne could hear the ringing sound of boots walking briskly on stone before a wave of foreign energy swept across everyone present. An oppressive atmosphere pervaded the cathedral, like a heavy weight pushing down on them.

She was familiar with the feeling. The Knights and Mages who fought on the front lines of the war against the Demi-Beasts put off similar pressure, although not to this degree. It symbolized the body’s readiness for battle and the cycling of mana within to increase strength and use magic.

Rumours say that Aiden had returned from the Americas, where the battle against the Demi-Beasts was going poorly. It was logical to assume he had seen significant fighting in his time there.

‘No wonder Marten described him as terrifying.’ Daphne thought, using her own mana to shield herself from the oppression and relieve some of the pressure on her body. After a moment, she did the same for her cousin, allowing her to breathe more easily.

The footsteps grew closer until Daphne was greeted with her first sight of Aiden, the Lost Prince. Next to her, Matilda drew in a deep breath.

Aiden was of a similar age to Daphne, with long, black hair that curled slightly around his neck and bright blue eyes. His skin was pale and lacked a single imperfection. To Daphne and Matilda, he was one of the most handsome men they had ever seen. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were cold and focused.

He had an air of power about him, and his body, while lean, was clearly well-defined and muscled. He moved gracefully across the cathedral floor, his steps light and quick, demonstrating a warrior’s skill and agility. She had seen the Knight move in a similar way, always ready to move quickly and with purpose if danger presented itself.

Prince Aiden wore the finest clothing, similar to the Knight's tabards, only a full suit in black with red and gold highlights. The Royal Griffin symbol was prominently displayed on his front right breast pocket, while the cape draped across his shoulders bore his family’s entire crest along its length that covered his back and reached the floor.

While Matilda admired his looks, Daphne was struck by his mana. From what she could see with her mind’s eyes, Aiden glowed more powerfully than either the King or any of the Knights present. Even the mages of the university would not be a match for the young man in front of him.

His mana that cycled endlessly inside his body was responsible for the oppression the crowd felt as he prepared to wield Excalibur. Daphne recognized that, to the young man, gripping the magical sword would be similar to battle. He was likely not even aware of what his actions were doing to those present.

Aiden stopped in front of the King and Queen. He seemed to ignore them and was focused entirely on the Sword buried nearly to its hilt in the chunk of stone. To Daphne’s knowledge, Aiden should first kneel and receive the blessing of the King and Queen and the crowd's admiration before attempting to grab the hilt of Excalibur.

Instead, Aiden was standing upright, still like a statue, ignoring everyone around him as he stared at Excalibur.

Clearing his throat, the King rose from his throne to speak.